Auburn, CA – Placer Community Foundation (PCF) handed a check for $108,440 to the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Colfax today to support relief efforts for victims of the River Fire in Placer County. The grant comes from PCF’s River Fire Relief Fund, which has received an outpouring of donations from community foundation fund holders, individual donors and a grant from the League of California Community Foundations.
The sizable grant to the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Foundation will be deployed through a partnership with the Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce, providing direct financial assistance for fire victims in Placer County.
Jackie Weston, Executive Director of the Auburn Chamber, shared, “These funds will assist numerous families with critical needs such as housing and food as they recover from the disaster. We are glad to partner with PCF in supporting local residents.”
The day after the River Fire started in Colfax, Placer Community Foundation established the River Fire Relief Fund to accept donations from those who wanted to quickly and directly support relief for the community.
“We are grateful for the quick and substantial charitable response to help our neighbors who have been affected by the River Fire. Our community has proven once again how kind it is through donations to the fund,” noted Veronica Blake, Placer Community Foundation’s CEO.
The blaze has burned over 2,600 acres and destroyed 88 structures, including homes and businesses. Though full containment is anticipated soon, the immediate need for help is high and the road to recovery is long. PCF is in close contact with our nonprofit and county partners and is mobilizing funds where needs are greatest. The community foundation directs funds based on in-depth knowledge where charitable dollars can be maximized for impact. Initial grants from the River Fire Relief Fund will address the needs in Placer and Nevada Counties.
In Nevada County, a grant of $50,000 was made to the Nevada County Relief Fund (NCRF), a volunteer group that is working directly with Nevada County to assess immediate relief efforts. This fund is fiscally managed by the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Leo Granucci, Co-Chair of the Nevada County Relief Fund stated, “The grant from PCF’s River Fire Relief Fund will boost our available resources to aid fire victims during this challenging time.”
To learn more or make a gift to the River Fire Relief Fund, visit: https://placercf.org/relief/.
About Placer Community Foundation
Placer Community Foundation (PCF) grows local giving to strengthen our community by connecting donors who care with causes that matter. Known for sound financial management and knowledge of the nonprofit sector, the Community Foundation continually monitors the region to better understand the nature of local needs, so that it can invest in areas such as arts and culture, education, health and human services, animals and the environment. Visit placercf.org for more information.